Ambrose Ambrosen

AMBROSEN, GENTWET, OLSON, GARLAND, KOLEN, CARLSON, EIDAHL

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 12/31/2009 at 06:46:21

AMBROSE AMBROSEN

Ambrose Ambrosen, one of Leland's most prominent citizens and successful business men, has been a resident of Winnebago county for forty six years and has taken an important part in its development and upbuilding. A native of Iowa, he was born in Winneshiek county, July 5, 1861, and is a son of Ole and Julia (Gentwet) Ambrosen, who came to this country from Norway in 1856 and located in Dane county, Wisconsin, being among the first Norwegians to settle in that county. They remained there four years before removing to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and in 1871 came to Winnebago county. The father purchased the southwest quarter of section 2, Forest township, at five dollars per acre, it being now owned by his son Ambrose, and upon that place he resided for about thirty years. He then bought the southeast quarter of section 35, Newton township, and continued to make his home thereon until his death. The mother of our subject died about 1867, leaving three children, Ambrose, Julia and George, all of whom are still living. The father subsequently married Julia Olson, who still survives him, and by that union there are seven living children: Ella, the wife of Erick Garland, of Thompson, Iowa; Ole, a farmer of Thompson; Halvor, a resident of McKenzie county, North Dakota; Julia, the wife of Martin Kolen, of Silverton, Washington; Albert, of McKenzie county; and Anna and Edward, at home with their mother.

Ambrose Ambrosen had practically no educational advantages during his boyhood, being able to attend school only a few months, but his training at farm work was not so meager and he assisted in the operation of the home place up to the time of his marriage. He then located in the town of Leland and engaged in fanning on his own account as a renter for five years at the end of which time he was able to purchase eighty acres of the old homestead. He built thereon a residence and barn and later bought an adjoining eighty acres continuing to live upon that place for sixteen years. Mr. Ambrosen next purchased one hundred and twenty acres, on a part of which the town of Leland now stands, and on the 9th of March, 1910, he located upon that place, which is still his home. Besides this farm he continues to own the one hundred and sixty acres of the old homestead, and has thirty or forty town lots in Leland and twenty acres just east of town. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery, the Farmers Elevator at Leland, the Farmers Savings Bank and the Lake Mills Lumber Company. He has built all the bridges constructed in Winnebago county during the last fourteen years.

On the 19th of June, 1888, Mr. Ambrosen married Miss Trena Carlson, of Forest township, Winnebago county. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and is a daughter of Tollaf Carlson, a native of Norway, who came to the United States about 1857 and removed from Wisconsin to Winnebago county, Iowa, in 1869. To Mr. and Mrs. Ambrosen have been born seven children, all of whom are still living, namely: Nettie, now the wife of 0. H. K. Eidahl, a merchant of Leland; Oscar, who is engaged in farming on land adjoining Leland; Alfred, a grain buyer and manager of the Farmers Elevator at Leland; and Edward, Walter, Irving and Allott May all at home.

The family hold membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church and are people of prominence in the community where they reside. By his ballot Mr. Ambrosen supports the men and measures of the republican party and he has taken quite an active and influential part in public affairs now serving as a member of the school board also the board of township trustees and as a member of the town council of Leland. He is a business man of far more than ordinary ability and the prosperity that has come to him is due to his own industry, enterprise and good management and to the assistance of his wife to whom he gives much credit for his success. He stands deservedly high in the esteem of his fellow citizens and has the confidence and respect of all who know him.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 194-195.